INSPIRATIONS + OBSERVATIONS

LOVE, ANDY was the second painting in my series of pop inspired work. Being heavily influenced by Andy Warhol, I thought it was time to go back and rediscover my passions for the work. In flipping through a standard Pop Art book, I found myself stuck on Andy's portrait of Marilyn. Curious at the power of art and its ability to marry these two icons into our working memories forever-- I questioned Andy's interest in Marilyn as a subject, was it in her life or in her death?  Consequently, thoughts on greatness, repetition, consumption, and influence, etc. started bubbling to the surface and so I knew I had to proceed with a series of work. But most importantly, it is my point of view that it is our responsibility to examine our Visual Culture-- instead of just consuming 'it' that drives my passion throughout the series. 

This image stood up to DEAR MARILYN's iconic stature and became a natural selection for the next work in the series. Interested in the intense contrast of the original photo, I strove for a color selection that would match it's boldness. At this point, I was craving intimacy with Andy's work, by adding the Camouflage Self-Portrait reference to the work it allowed me to play with the formal elements of shape + form all the while getting closer to Andy's work-- two birds one stone.